The Detailing Hand Book

The ONLY detailing guide written specifically for owners of the Honda S2000
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Interior Vinyl, Rubber, & Plastic Care

 

S2000 owners spend more time inside their cars than outside them.  However, not everyone takes the time to properly detail the interior.  The vinyl surfaces of the interior like the dashboard and door panels make up about half of the interior surface area and detailing them can have a large visual impact on the overall interior.

 

 

 

The interior vinyl in the S2000 takes a beating not only from the sun, but from dirt, spills, and skin oils.  Also, having the top down constantly really contributes to dirt getting inside the car.  Taking the time to care for your car’s interior vinyl will keep it looking like new and prevent it from cracking or fading.

 

 

 

Vinyl can dry out quickly in a convertible.  This is especially true in warmer/sunnier climates.  Vinyl should be conditioned every month or more depending on where you live.  Deep cleaning the vinyl with the exception of cleaning up spills and removing scuffs really only needs to be performed no more than 1-2 times per year.


 

What you’ll need . . .

 

  • Shade – Most car care products are not designed to be used in direct sunlight.  Using vinyl care products in a hot interior can often cause the product to dry prematurely resulting in a streaky or blotchy finish.  Therefore, it is important to find a shady spot to work in.  This can be under a car port, a canopy, or in a garage.  Sometimes even just putting the top up will provide enough shade to work on the interior.  It is not recommended that you detail under a tree as sap, leaves, pollen, or other debris could fall on your car during the detail.
  • Vinyl cleaner – very soiled vinyl or vinyl often exposed to skin oils may need to be cleaned before being protected.  Some popular vinyl cleaners include Meguiar’s APC, Meguiar’s #39, Meguiar’s Interior Quick Detailer, and Detailer’s Pride Total Interior Cleaner.

  • Vinyl dressing – your choice of vinyl dressing with UV protection.  Some of the most popular vinyl dressings include 303 Aerospace Protectant, Meguiar’s #40, Poorboy’s Natural Look, and Vinylex.

  • Microfiber towels – cheap microfiber towels from a wholesale club like Costco are a great tool for vinyl care.  They’re cheap enough so that you won’t mind getting them really dirty, but they are absorbent and soft like more expensive microfiber towels.  Make sure they are clean and that all tags have been removed before use.
  • Applicator – foam applicators are a great tool for applying dressing to vinyl & plastic surfaces.  It is much easier to apply an even coat with a foam applicator and if you get a rubber or plastic backed applicator your hands will stay cleaner.

  • Mr. Clean Magic Eraser – the Magic Eraser is a great tool for removing scuff marks and other stains from vinyl & plastic.  A suitable alternative to the Magic Eraser is an old tooth brush.

 

How to get it done . . .

 

 

1.      Before beginning to work make sure the interior vinyl is cool to the touch.

 

2.      Vacuum up any loose dirt.  Pay special attention to cracks and crevices where dirt may hide.

 

3.      Using a clean microfiber towel (or a small California Car Duster) dust off the center console, dashboard, and door panels.  If you do not dust off these surfaces the dust will later gum up your towels and along with the vinyl dressing form into a mud like substance.

 

4.      Spray a liberal amount of vinyl cleaner directly onto any stained, scuffed, or soiled surfaces.  (For smaller areas it’s less messy to spray the cleaner onto a folded towel.  Then apply the cleaner and scrub with the same towel.)

 

 

5.      Gently agitate the cleaner with the Magic Eraser.

 

 

6.      Wipe down all areas cleaned with a clean microfiber towel.

 

 

7.      Apply your vinyl dressing to one side of a microfiber towel folded in quarters or a foam applicator.

 

8.      Using the folded towel/applicator add a light coat of vinyl dressing to all interior vinyl & plastic.  Add additional product to the towel/applicator as necessary and massage the dressing into the vinyl & plastic as much as possible.

 

 

9.      Allow the vinyl & plastic to absorb the dressing for a moment.

 

10.  Wipe off any excess dressing with a clean microfiber towel.

 

 

11.  For a more glossy appearance add a second coat of dressing by repeating steps 7-10.